Display unit

ABSTRACT

A display unit for spectacles disposed around the periphery of a plurality of circular members disposed one above the other and located by a central vertical tube. Each member has downward by (downwardly) extending hollow projections engaging in recesses formed on the top of upstanding projections on the member below, so that the members are spacedly engaged and can be rotated simultaneously. For storage each member is lifted and rotated to nest the downward projections of all the members and likewise nest the upward projections so that the unit is in a collapsed state occupying less space.

United States Patent 1191 Seiller [451 May 13, 1975 l 54 l DISPLAY UNIT[75] Inventor: Pierre Francois Xavier Seiller, Ain,

France [22] Filed: Mar. 28, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 345,723

[51] Int. Cl B65d 21/04 [58] FieldofSearch...220/97 D,97 R,97 C, DIG.l3. 220/23.83, 507, 508, 509, 520; 211/126, 177

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS I Weiss 211/126 Frater220/97 D Brown 220/97 D X Primary E.\'aminerGeorge E. Lowrance Assistantli".\'aminerSteven M. Pollard Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl F. Ross;Herbert Dubno 57 ABSTRACT A display unit for spectacles disposed aroundthe periphery of a plurality of circular members disposed one above theother and located by a central vertical tube. Each member has downwardby (downwardly) extending hollow projections engaging in recesses formedon the top of upstanding projections on the member below, so that themembers are spacedly engaged and can be rotated simultaneously. Forstorage each member is lifted and rotated to nest the downwardprojections of all the members and likewise nest the upward projectionsso that the unit is in a collapsed state occupying less space.

6 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTED HAY 1 31975 3. 883 O37 sum 30F '4PATENFEU am 31975 SHEET 0F 4 DISPLAY UNIT The present invention relatesto a display unit.

It is known to arrange objects to be sold in shelves, show-cases ordisplay units. Frequently, the display units are sold or offered toretailers by the manufacturers or wholesalers.

In particular, a type of display unit is known in which the objects tobe displayed, of quite small dimensions, are arranged around theperiphery. These display units have several drawbacks: they must eitherbe dismantled by complicated means requiring tools or they simply cannotbe dismantled and occupy considerable space when they are transported orstored. In addition, they generally have fixed dimensions which limitthe locations at which they may be used. Thus, certain display unitswill only fit on a shop counter whereas others, due to their volume ordimensions, will only fit on the ground, most frequently in front ofshelves or racks, access to which is thereby limited.

It is the object of the invention to obviate a drawback of this type.

To this end, the display unit of the invention is constituted by memberswhich may be placed one on top of the other, means being provided forallowing a gap between each of them when the display unit is in theposition for use and, by a simple relative rotation through part of arevolution, allowing them to fit one into the other thus eliminating theaforesaid gap when the display unit is in the position for storage,transportation or stacking.

In a first embodiment of this display unit, all the constituent membersare identical and each of them is a disc having a uniform angulardistribution and the same number of bosses and recesses, each boss beinglocated between two recesses and at the same angular distance from eachof them and having, at its upper end a cup capable of housing a recessed(recessed) portion of another member, the cups of the bosses andrecesses also having their centers located on the same circle such thatwhen the two superimposed members have the same angular position, theymust be fitted into each other by introducing the bosses of the lowerdisc into those of the upper disc whereas to bring them into theexpanded position for use of the display unit, it is sufficient torotate one of the two discs through an angle corresponding to theangular distance separating an adjacent boss and recess and to cause thedownwardly turned recessed portions of the upper disc to rest in thecups of the bosses of the lower disc.

In the particular case where these display units are used in anopticians display, each of their members comprises, at its periphery, arim whose section is that of an inverted V, the outer skirt of whichcomprises several series of perforations for locating the articles to bedisplayed.

In a second embodiment of this display unit, all the constituent membersare again of identical shape and each member has a generally circularshape and comprises, with a uniform angular distribution, a successionof helical surfaces on the same axis and having the same pitch, startingfrom a common plane and ending at another common plane and separatedfrom each other by radial discs of material interconnecting thesehelical surfaces, the latter as well as the vertical discs being limitedin the region of the axis by a disc of material defining a cavity in theshape of a truncated cone.

The upper part of each helical surface comprises a perforation whereasthe lower part of each radial disc comprises a tenon able to be engagedin one of the perforations of the lower member, in order to bring thedisplay unit into the expanded position for use.

According to the invention, each perforation comprises a wide partfacilitating the passage of the free widened end of a tenon and a narrowpart for immobilizing this tenon.

Compared with the first embodiment, this second embodiment has anadditional advantage which is that of allowing interlocking of themembers in the extended position for use. Indeed, in the firstembodiment, the members simply rest one on top of the other and there isa risk of them leaving this position when the display unit is moved,particularly when it is lifted or even if it undergoes an impact, eventhough it may be slight.

In a simple arrangement of this second embodiment of the display unitaccording to the invention, each member comprises three helical surfaceseach extending over a sector of From the storage position, it is thussufficient to pivot the members through 120 with respect to each other,by a screwing movement and to engage the tenons of each member in theapertures of the lower member to bring the display unit into theexpanded position for use.

Advantageously, each member comprises, on its periphery and extendingthe helical surfaces, rims in the form of a helix having a section inthe form of an inverted V, the outer skirt of which comprises severalseries of perforations for locating the articles to be displayed, theserims being arranged such that when the display unit is in the extendedposition for use, the upper end of the rims of one member is expandedexactly by the lower end of the rims of the upper member So that thedifferent rims form continuous helixes extending from the base to theapex of the display unit.

The helical surfaces of two consecutive members are thus arranged as anextension of each other. This particular feature gives the display unita particularly aesthetic appearance.

The members are made from a sheet of plastics material which is heatwelded or molded or injected, or the members are made from pressed metalsheet.

Tne invention will be better understood by means of the ensuingdescription with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawingillustrating two embodiments of this display unit;

FIG. I is a top plan view of a first embodiment of the display unitaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, through twomembers in the stored position;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2, but in the expandedposition of use;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the members of FIG. 3 supporting a pairof spectacles;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of a member of the display unit illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 4, supporting two pairs of spectacles;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view ofa member of a second embodiment of thedisplay unit according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of two members identical to that of FIG.6, in the expanded position of use;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the member of FIG. 6, supporting a pair ofspectacles; and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 99 of FIG. 8 through twomembers in the stored position.

The members of the display unit according to the invention, shown inFIGS. 1 to are constituted by a thin disc 3, comprising six equalsectors. These sectors have two different shapes depending on whetherthey are sectors of even order 1 or uneven order 2. The disc 3 isbordered by a rim 4 which is intended to receive objects to be displayedfor sale.

The sectors of even order 1 each comprise on their axis, substantiallytangential to their circular end and perpendicularly thereto, a hollowboss 5 whose shape is substantially that of a truncated cone(frustocone), resting on the sector 1 by its large base. The cylindricalface of a hollow channel 8 of semi-cylindrical shape is radial andprojects from the upper face of the sector 1. Its diameter issubstantially equal to that of the large base of the boss 5. It connectsthe boss 5 to the rim 4. The small base of the boss 5 comprises a cup 6.The depth of the cups is less than the height of the boss 5 as may beseen from FIGS. 2 and 3.

The projection of these cups 6 in the plane of the disc 3 is such thattheir centers are spaced from the center of the disc 3 by a distance R,this centre corresponding to the vertex of the sector 1. The sectors 2of uneven order each comprise on their axis, projecting from their lowerface, a cup 7 whose center is at a distance R from the vertex. The outerdiameter of the cups 7 is substantially equal to the inner diameter ofthe cups 6. The depth of the cups 6 and 7 is substantially equal.

The rim 4 has a section in the shape of an inverted V. The side 9 ofthis V, turned towards the center of the disc 3, is connected to thelatter by its free end. The skirt ll of this V facing outwardly of themember comprises six pairs of holes 12 intended to receive pairs ofspectacles. The height of the V is substantially equal to the height ofthe channel 8.

At its center, the disc 3 comprises a circular hole 13 capable ofreceiving a cylindrical tube of the type currently used for the framesof shop display units.

There are two possible assembly positions for the membersaforedescribed: In the stored position, as shown in FIG. 2, which isused for the stacking and transportation of members when they are not inuse, and the expanded position of use, as shown in FIG. 3, which is usedfor the presentation of articles intended to be displayed and/or sold.

The storage position is obtained by juxtaposing the members, taking carethat the even sectors 1 and uneven sectors 2 correspond to each other.Thus, all shapes of the sectors 1 and 2, made from a thin disc, fit intoeach other.

The position of use is obtained by juxtaposing the members thus makingthe even sectors 1 correspond with the uneven sectors of the adjacentmembers. Consequently, the lower side of the cups 7 fits into the upperside of the cups 6, these three fittings vertically space two adjacentmembers with respect to each other. By multiplying the number ofmembers, a stack is produced which makes it possible to display thedesired number of articles. By passing a tube through the holes 13 ofthe display unit, which tube acts as a pole integral with a stand, it ispossible to rotate the arrangement of members in order to be able toexamine the pairs of spectacles 14 displayed.

The pairs of spectacles are displayed as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. Thesides 15 of a pair of spectacles are passed through holes 12a, 12b ofthe rim 4. These sidcs rest either on the upper face of the memberlocated just below the member receiving the pair of spectales or, if themember is the lowest member of a stack placed on a flat surface, thesides of the spectacles, folded back, rest on this flat surface.

FIGS. 6 to 9 show a second embodiment of the same display unit accordingto the invention, the members of which, constituted by a disc of thinmaterial 3, of generally circular shape, have three equal sectors, ofthe same shape, separated by radial discs of material 16 staggeredangularly through with respect to each other. The disc 3 is bordered bya rim 4 intended to receive the objects to be displayed for sale.

Each sector comprises a helical surface 17 which connects the base of aradial disc 16 to the apex of another radial disc 16 such that by goinground the member, there is a succession of helical surfaces 17,separated from each other by radial discs 16. All the helical surfaces17 have the same axis 18, which is the axis of the member and they allhave the same pitch. They all start from the same plane, perpendicularto the axis 18 and end in another common plane perpendicular to the axis18.

The rim 4 has a section in the form of an inverted V. The side 9 of thisV turned towards the centre of the member is connected by its free endto the various helical surfaces 17, along helical lines 19.

In fact, the rim 4 is composed of three sections 4a, 4b, and 4ccorresponding to the three helical surfaces 17. Each section comprisestwo pairs of holes 12 intended to receive pairs of spectacles.

At its centre, the disc 3 comprises a circular hole 13 capable ofreceiving a cylindrical tube, of the type currently used for the framesof shop display units. In the region of the axis 18, the helicalsurfaces 17 and the radial discs or walls 16 are limited by a disc ofmaterial 20 defining a cavity 22 whose shape is that of a truncated coneand in the base 23 of which is provided the aforesaid circular hole 13.

The upper part of each helical surface 17 comprises a perforation 24,whereas the lower part of each radial disc 16 comprises a tenon 26capable of being engaged in one of the perforations 24 of the lowermember.

As in the first embodiment, the members which have just been describedmay be assembled in two different ways: In the position of storage, asshown in FIG. 9 and in the expanded position, as shown in FIG. 7.

The position for storage is obtained by juxtaposing the members, makingthe sectors correspond and fittng the member into each other; the gapbetween the two members is thus very small.

The position for use is obtained by connecting the members, by simplysuperimposing the sectors. The connection is produced by the engagementof three tenons 26, in the shape of T of one member, in the threeperforations 24 of the lower member; the widened head of the tenons 26is introduced through the wide part of the perforations 24, thenimmobilized in their narrow part. It is sufficient to pivot the membersthrough 120 with respect to each other, by a screwing movement, tochange from the position for storage to the position of use.

By multiplying the number of members, a stack is produced which makes itpossible to display the desired number of articles. The rims 4a, 4b and4c are arranged such that when the display unit is in the extendedposition for use, the upper end of the rims of one member is extended bythe lower end of the rims of the upper member. Thus, the various rimssucceed each other and form three continuous helixes extending from thebase to the apex of the display unit.

The pairs of spectacles displayed 14 are arranged as shown in FIG. 8.The sides 15 are passed through two holes 12 in the rim 4 and rest onthe upper side of the member located there below.

The display units according to the invention have the advantage oftaking up little space when they are in the position for storage. Whenthey are in the position for use, they may be placed on the ground ormay even be placed on a shop counter. To adapt their height to the spaceavailable and to the number of articles that it is desired to display,it is sufficient to add or remove members. In addition, since they aremade from a sheet of plastics material which is heat welded or molded orinjected or may even be made from pressed sheet metal, these members arelight, inexpensive and aesthetic.

The display unit according to the second embodiment, corresponding toFIGS. 6 to 9, has the additional advantage of forming a rigidarrangement in the position for use; there is no risk of its memberscoming apart when it is moved, whether this is for rotating it,inclining it, lifting it or if impact is imparted thereto. In additon,the helical rims give it a particularly aesthetic appearance.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the single embodiments ofthis display unit, whose parts have been described above as non-limitingexamples; on the contrary, it includes all variations, for example thosewhere the members are divided into a number of different sectors or eventhose where the members are adapted to display other articles than thoseaforedescribed.

What is claimed is:

l. A display unit for articles to be mounted along its periphery,comprising a stack of identical thin-wall members of circular outlineand provided with a pluarlity of angularly equispaced formationsprojecting from one axial side of each member and forming concavities atthe opposite axial side thereof, said formations of pairs of adjacentmembers nesting in one relative angular position of the adjacent memberswith a projecting side of each formation of one member of the pairfitting into the concavity of a respective formation of the other memberof the pair, the formations of the adjacent members of the pairspacingsaid members apart in another relative angular position to expandthe stack, said members each being provided along its periphery withmeans for mounting said articles thereon, said formations includingthree angularly equispaced bosses, each member being of disk shape andfurther formed with three angularly equispaced recessed portionsprojecting from the said other side of the member, each boss beinglocated between two recessed portions and at the same angular distancefrom each of them, each boss being formed at its upper end with a cupcapable of receiving one such recessed portion, the cups of said bossesand said recessed portions having their centers located on a commoncircle centered on the axis of the disk such that when two adjacentmembers have the same angular position, the bosses of one fit into thebosses of the other and, when the adjacent members are angularly offsetthrough one sixth of a revolution, the recessed portions of an uppermember are received in the cups of the bosses of a lower member of thepair.

2. The display unit defined in claim 1 wherein each member is formedalong its periphery with a rim having an inverted-V-section, said rimincluding an outer skirt, said means for mounting said articlesincluding perforations formed in said rim.

3. A display unit for articles to be mounted along its periphery,comprising a stack of identical thin-wall members of circular outlineand provided with a plurality of angularly equispaced formationsprojecting from one axial side of each member and forming concavities atthe opposite axial side thereof, said formations of pairs of adjacentmembers nesting in one relative angular position of the adjacent memberswith a projecting side of each formation of one member of the pairfitting into the concavity of a respective formation of the other memberof the pair, the formations of the adjacent members of the pair spacingsaid members apart in another relative angular position to expand thestack, said members each being provided along its periphery with meansfor mounting said articles thereon, said formations including asuccession of helical surfaces having the same axis and the same pitchand starting from a common plane and ending at another common plane andseparated from one another by radial walls interconnecting the helicalsurfaces, said helical surfaces, and said radial walls reaching toward acavity having the shape of a truncated cone and located at the axis ofthe respective member, the upper part of each helical surface beingformed with a perforation and the underside of each radial wall beingformed with a tenon engageable in one of the perforations of a lowermember upon the stacking thereof.

4. The display unit defined in claim 3 wherein each perforation includesa wide part facilitating the passage of a widened end of one of saidtenons and a narrow part immobilizing the respective tenon.

5. The display unit defined in claim 3 wherein three such helicalsurfaces are provided, each extending over a center of 6. The displayunit defined in claim 3 wherein each of said formations has a rim ofinverted-V-crosssection, each of said rims having an outer apron formedwith perforations constituting said means for mounting said articles,the rims of the stacked members in an expanded position extendingcontinuously in a plurality of helices along the stack.

1. A display unit for articles to be mounted along its periphery,comprising a stack of identical thin-wall members of circular outlineand provided with a pluarlity of angularly equispaced formationsprojecting from one axial side of each member and forming concavities atthe opposite axial side thereof, said formations of pairs of adjacentmembers nesting in one relative angular position of the adjacent memberswith a projecting side of each formation of one member of the pairfitting into the concavity of a respective formation of the other memberof the pair, the formations of the adjacent members of the pair spacingsaid members apart in another relative angular position to expand thestack, said members each being provided along its periphery with meansfor mounting said articles thereon, said formations including threeangularly equispaced bosses, each member being of disk shape and furtherformed with three angularly equispaced recessed portions projecting fromthe said other side of the member, each boss being located between tworecessed portions and at the same angular distance from each of them,each boss being formed at its upper end with a cup capable of receivingone such recessed portion, the cups of said bosses and said recessedportions having their centers located on a common circle centered on theaxis of the disk such that when two adjacent members have the sameangular position, the bosses of one fit into the bosses of the otherand, when the adjacent members are angularly offset through one sixth ofa revolution, the recessed portions of an upper member are received inthe cups of the bosses of a lower member of the pair.
 2. The displayunit defined in claim 1 wherein each member is formed along itsperiphery with a rim having an inverted-V-section, said rim including anouter skirt, said means for mounting said articles includingperforations formed in said rim.
 3. A display unit for articles to bemounted along its periphery, comprising a stack of identical thin-wallmembers of circular outline and provided with a plurality of angularlyequispaced formations projecting from one axial side of each member andforming concavities at the opposite axial side thereof, said formationsof pairs of adjacent members nesting in one relative angular position ofthe adjacent members with a projecting side of each formation of onemember of the pair fitting into the concavity of a respective formationof the other member of the pair, the formations of the adjacent membersof the pair spacing said members apart in another relative angularposition to expand the stack, said members each being provided along itsperiphery with means for mounting said articles thereon, said formationsincluding a succession of helical surfaces having the same axis and thesame pitch and starting from a common plane and ending at another commonplane and separated from one another by radial walls interconnecting thehelical surfaces, said helical surfaces, and said radial walls reachingtoward a cavity having the shape of a truncated cone and located at theaxis of the respective member, the upper part of each helical surfacebeing formed wiTh a perforation and the underside of each radial wallbeing formed with a tenon engageable in one of the perforations of alower member upon the stacking thereof.
 4. The display unit defined inclaim 3 wherein each perforation includes a wide part facilitating thepassage of a widened end of one of said tenons and a narrow partimmobilizing the respective tenon.
 5. The display unit defined in claim3 wherein three such helical surfaces are provided, each extending overa center of 120*.
 6. The display unit defined in claim 3 wherein each ofsaid formations has a rim of inverted-V-cross-section, each of said rimshaving an outer apron formed with perforations constituting said meansfor mounting said articles, the rims of the stacked members in anexpanded position extending continuously in a plurality of helices alongthe stack.